Prostitution in Singapore : in the eyes of the law (1870 -1920)

Abstract

This dissertation explores the legislative laws to govern the brothel prostitution system in Singapore. I investigate the Contagious Disease Ordinance and the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance as two main archival case studies of the legal laws. I also seek to reconstruct the lives of the karayuki-sans and the Ah Kus, using their narrative accounts to justify their behavior and responses within this legal framework. In this study, the themes of colonial dominance and racial superiority are also analyzed as the overarching narrative of the brothel prostitution system. Therefore, this dissertation argues that the legislative laws, shaped by British colonialism and imperialists plans, went on to impact and influence the lives of the karayuki-sans and Ah Kus in Singapore.

Chapter 1 presents the current research literature done thus far, research methodology and approach as compared to previous scholarship studies done. Chapter 2 presents the Contagious Disease Ordinance (CDO) by drawing on official government records. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the Protection of the Women and Girls Ordinance and other legislative laws specific to the system of brothel prostitution. Chapter 4 aims to investigate how CDO and Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance influenced and impacted their lives.